All Rebels are Bad (ApplexDarling)

Chapter 2

A few hours had passed, and I was hiding in the living room.

"Dinner!" Mama called. I walked into the dining room, dragging my feet.

"What's the matter, Apple?" Papa asked.

"Nothing," I mumbled, looking down at my food.

"Well, child, there is no need to be blue today. Today, I will go and fight against the Rebels. Wouldn't that be a treat, eh?" Papa declared. I nodded. Papa put his hand out, motioning to something that no one could see.

"On November 9th, the Royals destroyed the Rebels. They crushed stores and people! Oh, they destroyed the people. That's right, they DESTROYED them!" Papa chuckled. His laugh was throaty and deep. I felt nauseous and the smell of fairy soup made me feel much worse.

"But... are all Rebels bad?" I asked meekly.

"Where are you getting these ideas from, Apple? Of course they are!" Papa scolded.

"Yes, Papa," I replied, and took a sip of my disgusting pea soup.

Later that night, I laid in bed, tossing and turning. I later kicked my blankets to the side altogether, even though it was chilly. I have never stayed up this late before, but I could not, for the life of me, fall asleep. I thought about what Darling had told me. But how is it possible? I wondered. How is it possible that Darling is the enemy? How is it possible that she is the one that I cannot stand? How is it possible that when I see the murder of her people, I celebrate it? I distinctly remember a time last year, when we were in 3rd grade, how she had helped me through something traumatic. Heinz, my older cousin, had died. She talked with me each night, and made excuses for me all the time. How is it that sweet, innocent, Darling is a REBEL? Perhaps, Papa was wrong. I heard a loud sound ring throughout the house.

"...Lina, I killed a Rebel! I KILLED A Rebel, LINA! Oh, I have never been happier..." my father bellowed. No I thought. Papa was always right. Papa is wiser than I'll ever be. I will have to report Ecaterina. Whatever I felt before could not be real. Our friendship could not have been real, because she is a Rebel.

"Papa," I called, racing down the stairs. "I have something important to tell you."

"What is it, Apple?" he asked, still joyous because of his recent victory.

"Darling is a Rebel," I mumbled, rushing to get the words out. I felt the secret, the one I gripped close to my heart, tumble through me and out. Out into where, I was not certain. Papa's face turned stern.